An internal audit is an important component to ensuring optimal performance of a quality management system. These audits can assist in monitoring the system and checking that the it is meeting conformance and standards. The goal of an internal audit is to gather information about the effectiveness of the quality system.

As the name implies, an internal audit is performed by someone within the company. However, the internal auditor should be associated with a different department than that which is being audited. The idea of an internal audit can be intimidating to some employees, so it is best to present these audits in a positive light, as a tool that will lead to improvement.

Internal audits can lead to a variety of benefits for your company if you utilize the results in an effective way. The following are reasons that internal audits are important to any business:

Identify areas in need of improvement

As an internal audit evaluates the effectiveness of a quality management system, it is easy for a company to identify areas that need improvement from the results. This makes an internal audit an important tool in which the company can increase their functionality.

Employee growth

As an internal audit is conducted by an employee within the company but from a different department, the process can be an important learning tool. The auditor can learn about a different aspect of the company and become better able to see the parts that make the whole of the company function. This can be empowering for the different departments and could also lead to growth within the company for them, career wise.

Internal feedback

Part of the process of an audit is gathering input from employees. These observations can be quite insightful for companies.

Audit report

The actual internal audit report that you receive at the end of the audit is an important tool to growing your company. It will provide a summary of the investigation and offer key observations in which your company can improve from.

Preparation for external audits

A great benefit of performing an internal audit is that your company can be prepared should an external audit occur. Performing an internal audit first allows you to gain knowledge of what areas you need to improve upon. Should the external auditors come up with the same observations, you can be prepared to express your ideas on how you are addressing any issues.

Performing an audit, especially an internal audit, is a great opportunity for a company to learn and grow. Internal audits are important to any business because they can evaluate your processes and ensure that you are meeting quality standards and conformance.